The Chelsea manager, André Villas-Boas, has backed his captain, John Terry, in the wake of an alleged racist slur against the Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand.

"He has put out his statement and we fully back John," Villas-Boas said. "John is a player who [represents] this country to the highest level internationally. He is a player of great responsibilities."

Terry is waiting to hear if Ferdinand will make a formal complaint about his altercation with the England captain during QPR's 1-0 defeat of Chelsea at Loftus Road on Sunday. Terry has categorically denied racially abusing Ferdinand, who he admitted had accused him of making a racist remark but insisted his own response was actually a denial. Ferdinand has yet to come out in support of that chain of events, while the police confirmed they were investigating an anonymous complaint made by a member of the public against Terry.

"He said to me the incident was a big misunderstanding. That's why he put his statement out straight away. I find it strange when people don't trust the words of a representative from your country."

Villas-Boas claimed Terry and Ferdinand cleared the air in the Chelsea dressing room after Sunday's game. "Anton was present in our dressing room," he said. "For us, it was end of story and it still is. It's just a misunderstanding and something blown out of all proportion. People who represent this country should have better and fuller support."

Villas-Boas added: "The clubs are in touch with each other. We have full backing for our player. The rest, we have to wait and see."

Allegations this week that John Terry racially abused an opponent on the pitch have raised an issue that many thought had gone away. Despite high-profile campaigns and a truly multicultural workplace, is racism still rife in the Premier League?